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Blood Clotters: SWAT Medics Report Their Findings on High-Tech Hemostatic Dressings Used to Stop Bleeding When Seconds Counts

NCJ Number
207311
Journal
Police: The Law Enforcement Magazine Volume: 28 Issue: 8 Dated: August 2004 Pages: 52,54,56,59
Author(s)
Dr. Lawrence E. Heiskell; Dr. Bohdan T. Olesnicky; Dr. Sydney J. Vail
Date Published
August 2004
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This article reviews five new blood-clotting hemostatic bandages on the market.
Abstract
Loss of blood is a leading cause of death among trauma victims. There are several new blood-clotting bandages on the market or being tested; this article reviews five of these products. The HemCon Bandage, manufactured by HemCon Inc., uses a biodegradable, nontoxic material that is a complex carbohydrate of chitin, found within the exoskeletons of shellfish. The bandage is designed for immediate hemorrhage control and can be used by a wounded person or an untrained first responder. The QuikClot by Z-Medica is made of granular zeolite, found in lava rocks. It promotes clotting by absorbing the water molecules in the blood to create a high platelet concentration. The RDH bandage by Marine Polymer Technologies uses poly-N-acetylglucosamine to promote blood clotting, which is found in single-cell ocean algae. TraumaDEX by Medafor Inc. is a wound-dressing agent synthesized from potato starch, which works by concentrating blood solids to form a gel around particles. Finally, Urgent QR by BioLife LLC uses a material known as thrombin, which is found in cow’s milk, to produce a blood-clotting powder that also acts as a protective barrier and bactericide. While the products all make claims regarding their effectiveness, little empirical research has focused on assessing these claims. Law enforcement agencies are therefore cautioned to research these products for themselves and to remember that old-fashioned direct pressure and tourniquets have been effectively saving lives for decades. Company contact information is provided.

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